BANGALORE: It was a question of guts, glory or no glory. Athletes from as many as 44 nations, the highest in a decade, with disabilities galore made their way into the Garden City and stole the hearts of all and sundry by their sheer bravado.
They displayed and yet hid all their disabilities to perform and put many able-bodied athletes and watchers to embarrassment if not shame by their spirit. One could only salute their bravery, spirit and above all determination to go around and parade their skills in different disciplines.
Most of the participants at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) 2009 World Games are as much involved in improving their skills as are the sportspersons in regular disciplines. But with a big and striking difference. Ask an able-bodied athlete who is the champion among the disabled ones and he possibly might not know. Ask a disabled athlete who the champion is in a particular discipline among able-bodied ones, and he or she will correctly answer your question.
Martin Nemec, the burly Czech Republic athlete who won the wheelchair shot put gold, is a keen follower of ice hockey. He also follows athletics at the Olympic Games and watches the throw events. “You know Pavel Nedved?,’’ he questions. “Yeah our team was very good but they have gone down. Koller, the big man is over (retired). Rosicky is not the same anymore. But they have good youngsters who will do well in future,’’ said Martin.
Mustafa Yuseinov of Bulgaria, not surprisingly, is an avid follower of weightlifting and powerlifting. “I don’t miss watching these competitions as there is so much you can learn,’’ says the big-made Yuseinov. “Table tennis is another sport I follow,’’ he adds even as he relaxes in his wheelchair after his competition.
Zong Kai of China was inspired by his team’s showing in the Beijing Olympic Games. “I watch athletics and table tennis,’’ said Zong through his English interpreter. Rehouni Hamza of Algeria, who won the bronze in the 400 metres event, is an avid football fan. So is his coach Mokrane Abdel Kader. “Football is the most popular sport in Algeria. We have about 300 professionals playing for various teams in European leagues,” said Mokrane.
A brief chat with a select few was enough to show that while the able-bodied sportspersons may ignore them, these gutsy sportspersons don’t ignore them.